Feeling HOT HOT HOT -- Fire Up the Grill ... Safely!

The Gulf Coast is a wonderful place to enjoy the great outdoors in the summertime. Wether you're camping, boating, or having friends over - at some point, we all enjoy outdoor grilling. While we focus on making sure the kids are safe in the pool, and we're all slathered in sunblock and staying hydrated, there are those special safety factors about outdoor cooking that can be easy to overlook if you're busy having fun too!

In this blog, we would like to share with you some important safety tips regarding food handling and grill maintenance that could save you from spending your fun time in an emergency room instead of with your toes in the sand! If you have some additional tips you'd like to share with us, please do! And, we're also not opposed to any good recipes you can share for family grilling fun time!

Before you fire up your grill, be sure of the following:

Inspect behind, underneath and inside your grill to be sure there are no lingering objects from the last time you grilled which could flame up. If you have a gas grill, be sure lines are not damaged or leaking and are secure.


Lighter fluid is dangerous and should never be added to hot coals or active flames on another type of grill in hopes to kick up the heat


Be sure your grill is grease free - clean and safe from grease fires


Keep a fire extinguisher nearby your grill


Everyone should keep their distance from a grill when in use


A grill should be distanced from the home and any overhangs when in use and as it cools down after use

Now that your grill is ready to use, here are some important dos and don'ts about cooking outdoors (or cooking any time)!!

DO wash food before you prepare it and wash your hands after you handle each item before touching another. Wash everything raw meat, poultry or seafood comes in contact with.


DON'T leave food uncovered! Flies and insects carry bacteria and germs on their feet from their nasty travels and could spread this to your uncovered food if they land on it.


DO be sure to clean any cooking utencils you store outdoors. Even though they may appear to be clean and you cleaned them after your last use, they have been exposed to the elements and those pesky, dirty insects we mentioned above!


DON'T use a marinade that held raw meat to baste cooking meats afterward. Create your baste fresh instead.


DO keep it hot!! Bacteria die around 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure that all cooking surfaces are brought to a very high temperature. If you enjoy low & slow cooking, start your smoker off by making sure all metal parts are brought to a temperature above boiling water before you start cooking.


DON'T leave thawed meat out in the elements too long. It's best to thaw and leave thawed meat in the refridgerator until it's time to put it on the grill.

Remember, when you're grocery shopping, you should keep raw meats separated from your other groceries to avoid cross contamination. We recommend using the plastic produce bags to wrap packages of raw meat before puting them in your shopping cart.

SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast is wishing all of our friends a fantastic summer! Keep watching our blog for more useful info regarding your safety, your insurance needs or other useful information. Like us on facebook for our fun summer contests and awesome updates you can use;
facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast.

Most importantly, as your Trusted Choice Insurance Agent, SouthGroup Insurance Gulf Coast wants you to know you can call on us with your questions or concerns seeking more helpful advice or answers to your pressing insurance questions. A full insurance review is always your best bet to make sure you have all of the adequate coverage for your personal insurance needs. Remember, we offer a personalized insurance review to anyone who is interested at no charge – just visit any one of our 3 convenient coastal locations!

We are your LOCAL Trusted Choice Advisors, SouthGroup-Gulf Coast http://www.southgroupgulfcoast.com ,  SALES AND SERVICE AGENTS: Angelyn Treutel Zeringue, Tammy Garfield, Tammy Hogue, Brittany Jones, Denise Russell, Melissa Moran, Alex Treutel, Anne Gillam, Ashlie Moody, Michael Reso, Mark Strickland, and Whitney Zimmerman at SouthGroup Gulf Coast. You can reach us by snail-mail or in person: 412 Hwy 90, Suite 6, Bay St Louis MS 39520, email: atreutel@southgroup.net , phone: 228-466-4498 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 228-466-4498 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting  fax:888-415-8922,  FaceBook www.facebook.com/southgroup.gulfcoast, or Twitter www.twitter.com/atreutel !

We have 3 Gulf Coast locations to serve you - 2505 Pass Road - Biloxi, 5400 Indian Hill-Diamondhead, and 412 Hwy 90 Ste 6-Bay Saint Louis, MS. We write coverage in 40 different states and can assist you with Mississippi insurance, Louisiana insurance, and Alabama insurance and many other states. Insurance is stressful, but we make saving easy.  We help you save money on insurance!  

Thanks to Susan Monti for her words of wisdom!